10 replies to this topic

[Tifferrobinson]

Mini City E
1992:

I have already described some of my power woes on another thread, but I thought I would try a new thread for the next question about it! My battery has died twice in the last week and I have charged it up twice and all seems to work. The voltage is around 12.8V when the engine is not running, then with the engine running the voltage across the battery is around 14.2V going down to 13.3V with all the lights on (things like heater and rear window heaters don't seem to have as significant effect), and my revs drop fairly dramatically with the lights on. So there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with my alternator. I have been fixing a new heater matrix so a lot of off and on testing, which could have done it - however that was the second time the battery drained, the first time I was listening to the stereo a lot and driving with the lights on but not starting the mini more often than is usual.

My question is - can I realistically drive the mini for short journeys in the dark? I have been told it takes 15 miles driving to charge the battery for each engine start - in which case driving for 4.5 miles seems like it might just not be an option for mini drivers, particularly with the lights on? Any opinions? We got the mini in order to be a run around for short journeys between villages!

[megabob]

if your batt needs 15 miles to charge you could leave it idle with the choke in to up the revs before and after driving or alternativly you could keep the battery topped up by charging it up every couple of days

[Tifferrobinson]

if your batt needs 15 miles to charge you could leave it idle with the choke in to up the revs before and after driving or alternativly you could keep the battery topped up by charging it up every couple of days

But fuel economy is then pantso - the charging every couple of days is an option but I don't like to leave it charging overnight or when I go out because of firey badness. The 15 miles thing was something I read on here, I have no idea if it is true.

[markaboot]

if your batt needs 15 miles to charge you could leave it idle with the choke in to up the revs before and after driving or alternativly you could keep the battery topped up by charging it up every couple of days

But fuel economy is then pantso - the charging every couple of days is an option but I don't like to leave it charging overnight or when I go out because of firey badness. The 15 miles thing was something I read on here, I have no idea if it is true.

i doubt u'd need 15 miles to charge it back up again. otherwise every time u drove id u'd have to do 15 miles or ur battery would die eventually. i bet theres pletty of mini owners that reguarly drive there mini's less than 15 miles. i certanly do, its my evening run around. mine dies over a period of time rathr than number of starts. it'll start fine the next day but left any longer than 2 and it struggles. i bet a week of not driving and it would be dead.

try a new battery. peugeot 306 diesel turbo batterys seem to be favourite. fits in the box and lots more juice.

[Kernal H]

I regually did a 1-2 mile trip (to and from my school(Lazy I know!)), any that NEVER ran down my battery. Plus it was in the middle of winter, I had some sluggish starting but once it got going it was fine.

[Big_Adam]

Used to drive my El Gordo before the ice on the screen (inside) had even thawed.

So yes, it's fine to drive a mini in the winter. Be sure your undercoat is good because of all the salt.

[Tifferrobinson]

if your batt needs 15 miles to charge you could leave it idle with the choke in to up the revs before and after driving or alternativly you could keep the battery topped up by charging it up every couple of days

But fuel economy is then pantso - the charging every couple of days is an option but I don't like to leave it charging overnight or when I go out because of firey badness. The 15 miles thing was something I read on here, I have no idea if it is true.

i doubt u'd need 15 miles to charge it back up again. otherwise every time u drove id u'd have to do 15 miles or ur battery would die eventually. i bet theres pletty of mini owners that reguarly drive there mini's less than 15 miles. i certanly do, its my evening run around. mine dies over a period of time rathr than number of starts. it'll start fine the next day but left any longer than 2 and it struggles. i bet a week of not driving and it would be dead.

try a new battery. peugeot 306 diesel turbo batterys seem to be favourite. fits in the box and lots more juice.

Are you saying your battery dies every couple of days? My mini was off the road for a year, I bought it a month ago and there has been no problem with battery until past couple of weeks.

[JohnGordon]

Well mine is my daily driver, I travel to work about 3 miles and back and do lots of nipping round for parts, paperwork ect. I've never had a problem with starting yet, have you thought it could be duff battery? I know recently a lot of motor factors round my parts have been knocking out cheap batterys, I mean as in cheaply made expensive to buy!

[Ethel]

It's most likely time for a new battery though it may be worthwhile giving the starter and cabling the once over.

[markaboot]

if your batt needs 15 miles to charge you could leave it idle with the choke in to up the revs before and after driving or alternativly you could keep the battery topped up by charging it up every couple of days

But fuel economy is then pantso - the charging every couple of days is an option but I don't like to leave it charging overnight or when I go out because of firey badness. The 15 miles thing was something I read on here, I have no idea if it is true.

i doubt u'd need 15 miles to charge it back up again. otherwise every time u drove id u'd have to do 15 miles or ur battery would die eventually. i bet theres pletty of mini owners that reguarly drive there mini's less than 15 miles. i certanly do, its my evening run around. mine dies over a period of time rathr than number of starts. it'll start fine the next day but left any longer than 2 and it struggles. i bet a week of not driving and it would be dead.

try a new battery. peugeot 306 diesel turbo batterys seem to be favourite. fits in the box and lots more juice.

Are you saying your battery dies every couple of days? My mini was off the road for a year, I bought it a month ago and there has been no problem with battery until past couple of weeks.

if i leave it longer than 2 then it struggles to start. its better than the battery i replaced it with, that died over night.
but there both old batterys, i'll be buying a 306 battery for mine when this spare dies.

[lrostoke]

I kept putting off buying a new battery, problem is when you need the car in a hurry is the time it will be flat.

I'd bite the bullet and get a new one..

Type 075 is the Peugot battery you want about £55 - £60 mark